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Heo Jun

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For other uses, see Heo Jun (disambiguation).
Heo Jun
Korean name
Hangul
허준
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHeo Jun
McCune–ReischauerHŏ Chun
Art name
Hangul
구암
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGuam
McCune–ReischauerKuam
Courtesy name
Hangul
청원
Hanja
Revised RomanizationCheongwon
McCune–ReischauerCh'ŏngwŏn
In this Korean name, the family name is Heo.

Heo Jun (Korean: 허준; 1539 – 9 October 1615) was a Korean physician. He was the royal chief physician of the Naeuiwon during the reign of King Seonjo (1597-1608) and King Gwanghae (1608-1623) of the Joseon Period.[1]

Biography

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Childhood and Youth

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Heo Jun was born in 1539 to an affluent military family in the Gangseo District of Seoul Although he belonged to the Yangcheon Heo clan, a wealthy and respected household, he is thought to have faced discrimination from his lineage from other aristocrats (yangban) as he was unable to adopt the yangban status because his mother was a concubine. Status or hierarchical status would prove to be a very important influence throughout Heo Jun's life in Korea's then Confucian society as it determined quality of life, education, and recognition.[2]

During the Joseon period, illegitimate children of aristocrats could not maintain their father's yangban (noble status) and instead were considered chungins. Chungins, or "middle people," were considered a social class of technicians and administrators subordinate to the yangbans. While it is unknown why Heo chose to pursue medicine, his social status as a chungin may have prevented him from becoming a civil or military officer like his father. However, there is a very early folktale that depicts his first encounter with medicine and how he had spent the early years of his life:

While working in the market, Heo meets a retired healer and asks to be his apprentice. The healer agrees but requires Heo to spend ten continuous years training. For eight long years, Heo is rigorously trained, after which he successfully revives a dying child. However, instead of praising him, his master reproaches him, telling him he had interfered with the course of nature in saving a soul that was destined to die. Their conflicting beliefs about medicine and a physician's duty drive a wedge between them, and Heo ultimately determines to quit his apprenticeship.[3]

Back in his hometown, Heo emerges as an exemplary healer, which ultimately caught the attention of the Chinese emperor, who invites Heo to heal the ailing princess. Heo, who was on his way to China, saved an injured tiger while traveling. In appreciation of this action, the tiger gifts Heo with a whetstone, acupuncture needles, and an enchanted cloth which is known to give life. On arrival at the palace, Heo attempts to treat the princess, only to realize she had been turned into a snake below the waistline. His methods did not work, but that evening, his old mentor reappears in a dream and shows him the correct way to cure her.[3]

Career Progression

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He was appointed as a court physician at the age of 29. At age 32, Heo entered the royal clinic of Joseon (Naeuiwon), where he was rapidly promoted. In 1575, Heo treated King Seonjo, the fourteenth king of Joseon. In 1590, he rose to a senior third-rank government official position after curing the Crown Prince's smallpox. The Imjin War (1592-1598) further solidified King Seonjo's trust in Heo, who accompanied the King throughout the war when other government officers fled to protect their lives. King Seonjo rewarded Heo for his allegiance and his second successful treatment of the afflicted Crown Prince by promoting him to the senior second rank in 1596.

In 1600, Heo became the chief physician of the Naeuiwon - the palace's dedicated infirmary and pharmacy. During this time, King Seonjo ordered Heo to write a medical book for his people, who suffered in the post-war period from epidemics and famines. King Seonjo asked for a book containing preventative care, detailed drug formulas, and treatment methods that commoners with little or no education could easily access and comprehend. King Seonjo's initiative is noted as one of Joseon's first public healthcare programs.

In 1608, when King Seonjo died, government officials accused him of being culpable for the King's death. Heo was exiled to the southeastern countryside of Ulju, where he nevertheless continued to work on his book. In 1609, King Gwanghaegun, the successor to Seonjo, restored Heo to office despite the disapproval of many officials. In 1610, after previously earning King Seonjo's trust, Heo finally completed the twenty-five volumes Donguibogam.[2] It was a compendium of Korean medicinal knowledge after fifteen years of writing, promoting accessible healthcare. He spent the last years of his life educating young physicians of Naeuiwon until he died in 1615.

Post-Death and Legacy

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Heo Jun’s work remained foundational in Korean medicine during the late Joseon period, with court physicians and scholars frequently citing his research. His integration of Confucian, Taoist, and empirical medical principles continued to shape medical ethics and practice. By using Hangul in his texts, he made medical knowledge more accessible to commoners, expanding healthcare beyond the elite.[2]

Although Heo Jun attained the esteemed position of Chief Royal Physician (Naeuiwon Jwasan), the rigid Confucian hierarchy prevented him from being fully accepted into Joseon’s ruling class. However, after his death, he was posthumously granted the Senior First Rank Officer (Jwaeuijeong) title, the highest bureaucratic rank, recognizing his lasting contributions to Korean medicine.[3]

Even today, concepts and historical context is being taught in Traditional Korean Medicine schools in South Korea such as Kyung Hee University (College of Korean Medicine) and Dongguk University (College of Korean Medicine) which are schools officially articulated by the government to allow licensing and practice for traditional Korean medicinal doctors. [4]

To honor his legacy, the Heo Jun Museum was established in Gangseo District, Seoul, in 2005, preserving his contributions to traditional medicine. The district also hosts annual Heo Jun Festivals celebrating his impact on Korean healthcare and culture.

Contribution to medicine

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He wrote several medical texts, but his most significant achievement, Donguibogam ("Mirror of Eastern Medicine"), is considered his magnum opus as well as the defining text of traditional Korean medicine. The work spread throughout East Asian countries like China, Japan, and Vietnam, where today it is regarded as one of the classics of Oriental medicine. It is divided into five chapters: "Internal Medicine", "External Medicine", "Miscellaneous Diseases", "Remedies", and "Acupuncture". In the first chapter, "Internal Medicine", Heo describes the interdependence of the liver, lungs, kidney, heart, and spleen. The chapter on "External Medicine" explains how the skin, muscles, blood vessels, tendons, and bones allow for movement and maintenance of posture. The chapter on "Miscellaneous Diseases"' describes various diseases' symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment methods. Heo's remedies rely on medicinal herbs and plants, for which provide detailed instructions on how to extract, maintain, and consume. The last chapter explains methods of acupuncture. In addition to providing valuable medical knowledge, it also reflects the philosophy of seventeenth-century East Asia.

As a royal physician, Heo Jun published 10 distinct books:

  1. Naeui Sunsaen An (The List of Royal Physicians, 內醫先生案, 1605)[5]
  2. Unhae Taesan Jipyo (Compilation of the Essentials on Obstetrics with Korean Translations, 諺解胎産集要, 1607)[5]
  3. Unhae Gugeupbang (Formulas for Emergencies with Korean Translations, 諺解救急方, 1608)[5]
  4. Unhae Duchang Jipyo (Compilation of the Essentials on Smallpox with Korean Translations, 諺解痘瘡集要, 1608)[5]
  5. Dongui Bogam (Treasured Mirror of Eastern Medicine, 東醫寶鑑, 1610)[5]
  6. Chando Banglon Magkyul Jipseong (Compilation of Formulas, Doctrines, Pulse-taking, and Rhymes Redacted and Illustrated, 纂圖方論脈訣集成, 1612)[5]
  7. Shinchan Byukonbang (Newly Compiled Formulas to Ward off Epidemics, 新纂辟瘟方, 1613)[5]
  8. Byukyeok Shinbang (Divine Formulas to Ward off Epidemics, 辟疫神方, 1613)[5]
  9. Napyak Jeungchi Bang (End-of-the Year Medicines, 臘藥症治方)[5]
  10. Yukdae Uihak Sungshi (Names of Physicians Throughout History, 歷代醫學姓氏)[5]

The publication of these books were widely used academically within the palace, administratively, and those who were studying medicine at the time and was proven to be seminal works for preserving academia.

Although Heo Jun worked extensively with the royal family, he emphasized making treatment methods accessible and comprehensible to common people. Whereas common medical knowledge and most court physicians considered the effectiveness of a given treatment to be a factor of the rarity and cost of the ingredients involved, he instead found natural herb remedies that were easily attainable by commoners in Korea and were just as effective. Furthermore, he wrote the names of the herbs using the simple hangul letters instead of using more difficult hanja (Chinese characters), which most commoners did not understand.[6][7] Donguibogam was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2009.

Family

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  • Grandfather
    • Heo Gon (허곤; 許琨) (경상도우수사)
  • Father
    • Heo Ryun (허륜)
  • Mother
    • Lady Kim of the Yeonggwang Kim clan (영광 김씨)
  • Brothers
    • Older half-brother: Heo Ok (허옥; 許沃)
    • Younger half-brother: Heo Jing (허징; 許徵) (b. 1549)
  • Wife
    • Lady Kim of the Andong Kim clan (정경부인 안동 김씨)
  • Son
    • Heo Gyeom (허겸; 許謙) (파릉군; 巴陵君)
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Film and television

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Literature

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  • The novel Dongui Bogam by Lee Eun-seong was published in 1990 and became a bestseller.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 허준 許浚 (1539 ~ 1615) [Heo Jun] (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
  2. ^ a b c International, Hektoen. "Heo Jun: brilliant physician in 16th century Korea - Hektoen International". hekint.org. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  3. ^ a b c Kwon, Hyuk Joon (2021-01-02). "Heo Jun: physician of the people". Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives. 11 (1): 53–55. doi:10.1080/20009666.2020.1853316. ISSN 2000-9666. PMC 7850328. Archived from the original on 2025-02-15.
  4. ^ Shim, Bum-Sang; Koh, Byung-Hee; Ahn, Kyoo-Seok (January 2004). "Education in Oriental Medicine in Kyung Hee University". Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 1 (3): 331–334. doi:10.1093/ecam/neh050. ISSN 1741-427X. Archived from the original on 2025-03-08.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Service (KOCIS), Korean Culture and Information. "What is the Dongui Bogam? : Korea.net : The official website of the Republic of Korea". www.korea.net. Retrieved 2025-03-12.
  6. ^ Han, Sang-hee (31 July 2009). "Mirror of Eastern Medicine Becomes UNESCO Heritage". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  7. ^ Chung, Ah-young (7 August 2009). "Korean of Dongui Bogam Unveiled". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  8. ^ "Concentration Of Attention (Jibnyeom; 1976)". Korean Movie Database. Archived from the original on 2013-04-13. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  9. ^ Lee, Sang-min (February 2013). "Historical Drama and Future". KOFICE WebZine. Archived from the original on 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  10. ^ Kang, Hyo-jin (6 March 2013). "Kim Joo Hyuk seeks to bring his new interpretation of Heo Jun in Gu Am Heo Jun". Korea Star Daily via Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  11. ^ "Hur Jun, the Original Story script reading of MBC's new drama series". MBC Global Media. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  12. ^ Oh, Jean (13 March 2013). "Period piece overload? Spring drama lineup goes heavy on historical settings". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  13. ^ "Hur Jun, the Original Story Casts Interview". MBC Global Media. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 2014-06-13.

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